Panel and frame assembly

ABSTRACT

A panel and frame assembly and method for producing same in which the frame is provided with a longitudinally extending channel facing the area to be panelled. The panel is secured by a strip extending longitudinally of the frame and engaging the channel in snap-fitting relationship. In securing solid panels in the frame, the strip is secured in the channel by a cam-locking relationship between the strip and the frame. The strip has three distinct spring actions in which two portions of the strip act as separate compression springs, while another portion acts as a tension spring. In securing fabric panels into the frame, the spring and cam actions are the same as in securing solid panels. Additionally, the portion of the strip which acts as the cam-lock engages the fabric.

United States Patent Le Tarte [54] PANEL AND FRAME ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Frank M. Le Tarte, 9094 vYager Road, Smith Creek, Mich. 48074 [22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 108,456

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 799,579, Feb.

[52] US. Cl. ..160/371, 52/502, 160/395, 160/403 [51] Int. Cl. ..E06b 9/24 [58] Field of Search ..160/371, 383, 391-395, l60/397,399, 403; 52/502, 401, 475; 49/466, 463

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,581 4/1916 Green ..160/397 1,758,720 5/1930 Sodergren ..160/392 3,137,901 6/1964 Malachowski et al. ..49/463 X 3,455,367 7/1969 Le Tarte 160/371 [451 Oct. 10,1972

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 470,972 1 l 951 Canada ..52/502 Primary ExaminerDavid J. Williamowsky Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Att0rneyMcCoy, Greene & Howell [5 7] ABSTRACT A panel and frame assembly and method for producing same in which the frame is provided with a longitudinally extending channel facing the area to be panelled. The panel is secured by a strip extending longitudinally of the frame and engaging the channel in snap-fitting relationship. In securing solid panels in the frame, the strip is secured in the channel by a cam-locking relationship between the strip and the frame. The strip has three distinct spring actions in which two portions of the strip act as separate compression springs, while another portion acts as a tension spring. In securing fabric panels into the frame, the spring and cam actions are the same as in securing solid panels. Additionally, the portion of the strip which acts as the cam-lock engages the fabric.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATEmmncnmm 3.696.857

SHEET 1 [IF 2 Fig.1

m g N *[77/ PKTENTEUUBI 10 I972 sum 2 or 2 lIIIlIIlI/III PANEL AND FRAME ASSEMBLY RELATED APPLICATION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method of panelling a frame and the resulting assembly, and more particularly to a method of securing a panel in a frame by means of an elongated strip snapped into a channel facing the area to be panelled. The strip has a unique cross-sectional contour in which one cross-sectional portion of the strip snaps into the channel and cooperates with the frame to define a cam-lock securing the strip to the frame, and two portions of the strip, as viewed in cross-section, act as compression springs while another portion of the strip, as viewed in crosssection, acts as a tension spring. When the strip is employed to secure fabric panels, the cam-lock portion additionally engages and locks the fabric between the strip and the frame. The strip is preferably formed from plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride, and has a generally Y shaped cross-section in which two legs of the Y form a compression spring; one of the legs and a portion of the stem of the Y form a second compression spring; and the other of the legs and the entire crosssection of the stem form a tension spring.

The frame, as viewed in cross-section, is provided with a generally L shaped channel having a base or foot portion which faces the area to be panelled. This foot portion is bounded on one edge by a stem portion including a longitudinally extending inclined surface and a terminal portion in the form of a flat surface substantially perpendicular relative to the base portion. The terminal portion provides a bearing or resting surface for the panel. The foot portion is bounded on the opposite edge by a lip portion lying in the plane containing the frame facing and projecting toward the area to be panelled.

In one embodiment, the channel includes a recess or slot extending longitudinally of the frame. The slot is in the foot portion of the channel and has a transverse dimension extending away from the area to be panelled. This slot aides the fastening of fabric by receiving the terminal edges or margins of the fabric. Positioning the fabric in this manner assures that the fabric will be lockingly engaged between the cam-lock portion of the strip and the frame when the strip is snapped in position. Advantageously, both frame and strip embodiments are capable of receiving and anchoring solid and fabric panels in a range of thicknesses. Also advantageously, one edge of the strip is a portion of one of the compression springs and resiliently engages the panel. This plastic strip permits forces on the panel to partially compress the compression spring and thus impart a certain limited resilience to the panel. This apparent resilience reduces the possibility of damage to the panel due to blows or pressures such as are produced by children and small animals. One of the particular advantages of this combination is that with fiberglass screen panels, the resilience of the strip is imparted to the fabric and obviates the principle disadvantage of fiber-glass, namely, its relative inelasticity. An advantage of this compression springframe slot co-operation is that it permits the strip to cooperate with frames having varying tolerances of slot dimensions. This occurs, for example, when the frame is made from extruded metal, such as aluminum, and the extrusion die becomes worn.

These and various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the reading of the detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the door embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section, to an enlarged scale, taken I along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 and rotated DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, thereis depicted in FIG. 1, a closure member in which, in this particular instance, is a door 10 including a master frame member 12 having a top mullion bar 14, and a bottom mullion bar 16. The door also includes three types of panels, namely, a glass plate 18, a screen or fabric 20, and a kick plate 22, each of which is secured in position by four lengths of a plastic fastening strip 24, extending peripherally of, and snapped into identically cross-sectioned channels 23 in frame member 12, and mullion bars 14 and 16. Mullion bar 14 includes a similar channel 23-A for receiving strip 24. FIG. 2 is a view in section, taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, to an enlarged scale and showing a resilient strip snapped into channel 23 in the frame, and resiliently holding a screen panel in the frame. As viewed in cross-section, the plastic strip 24 is generally Y shaped in which one elongated portion 25 and another elongated portion 26 define legs of the Y and in which the remaining portion 27 is an angularly disposed stem portion of the Y. The stem portion 27 can be considered as being divided into two portions, a first portion 28 connected to and angularly depending from legs 25, 26 and a second portion 29 angularly depending from first portion 28. Advantageously, legs 25 and 26 co-operate to define a compression spring. Leg 25 and first stem portion 28 define another compression spring. Legs 25 and 26 co-operate with surfaces in channel 23 to define a cam-locking engagement, as will be subsequently described. The entire stem portion 27 and leg 26 effectively define a tension spring which will also be subsequently described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a view in section which shows the master frame 12, a fragmentary portion of the glass 18 and plastic strip 24 snapped into a generally L shaped frame channel 23 in which strip 24 resiliently holds glass 18 in master frame 12. In this particular instance, master frame 12 is a hollow extrusion which may be quickly and economically produced from any readily extrudable metal, such as aluminum. It is not essential, however, that the master frame be formed ofaluminum, for it may, in fact, be formed from wood or any other convenient construction material.

The L shaped channel 23 in master frame 12 includes a pair of surfaces 33, 34 separated by an intervening slot 35. Surface 34 faces perpendicularly relative to the area covered by glass panel 18. The channel surfaces 33 and 34 form the base or foot of the L. Surface 34 is bounded .by an outer lip 40, lying in the plane of the door facing and projecting, substantially perpendicularly inwardly toward the panelled area or glass panel 18. The edge of surface 33 is remote from lip 40 and is connected to the stem of theL which includes a surface 42 projecting at an acute angle relative to the edge of surface 33 and a fiat terminal portion 43 positioned normally to surface 34 and defines a bearing surface for the solid or fabric panel.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view, in section, taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 to an enlarged scale and showing mullion bar 14 having a kick-plate panel 22 resiliently held thereon by means of resilient strip 24 snapped into a channel 23-A and also having a screen panel 20 resiliently supported thereon by a second plastic strip 24 snapped into channel 23..The upper portion of FIG. 4 showsmullion 14 as having a panel supporting surface 50 depending. therefrom and connected thereto by an angularly disposed surface 52.

Mullion 14 includes a surface 54 facing kick-plate 22 and terminating'in a lip portion 56 which projects from the mullion 14 in a plane parallel to the plane containing kick-plate 22. From this view, it is seen that only the edge of strip portion 29 of the stem portion 27 engages kick-plate 22 over all of its length, and that the tension spring defined by stem portion 29, stem portion 28 and arm portion 26 is under substantial stress. The edge of arm portion 26 is wedged against surface 52 and does not reach surface 54. Thus this edge of arm portion 26 is able to move toward surface 54 if surface 52 is nearer to'lip 56, as occurs when the surfaces of the extrusion die wears and the wall behind surface 52 and the lip 56 becomes thicker. Also, the compression spring defined by arms 25 and 26 of strip 24 is somewhat compressed. The strip can bemanually installed without the use of tools or with the assistance of a hand tool, such as a screwdriver. Specifically, finger pressure can be applied to ridge 57, defining the junction of stem portions 28, 29. Alternatively, a screwdriver blade may be pressed into the V defined by stem portion 28 and arm 25. In either instance, arm portion 26 slides downwardly along surface ,52 toward surface 54 until the edge of arm portion 25 snaps beneath lip 56. When this occurs, a cam-locking relationship exists between strip 24, lip 56 and surface 52. A similar situation occurs when the strip. 24 is inserted in the lower portion of mullion 14 to retain screen panel 20.

In the right-hand portion of FIG. 4, it is seen that the mullion bar 14 contains a channel 23 similar in crosssection to the channel in master frame 12 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this channel, a plastic strip 24 is resiliently mounted to retain screen panel 20 resiliently against mullion 14 in a manner similar to the engagement of strip 24 in the master frame 12 of FIG. 2. The compression spring defined by arms 25 and 26 provides a resilient engagement between the frame and the screen panel 20 and also diminishes the requirement for critical tolerances in the width of this channel.

FIGS. 5 through 7 are isometric viewsof plastic strip 24, to an enlarged scale relative to FIGS. 2 through 4. In FIG. 7, theedge 59 of strip 24 is mitered and the arm portion 26 is notched at surfaces 60,62 so that strip 24 may terminate in a mitered comer snugly fitting with a second mitered strip 24 to define a substantially fluidtight corner. The notch definedby surfaces 60, 62 permits the strip to extend over the junction defined by the mullion bar 14 and the frame member 12.

In FIG. 5, strip 24 is shown in perspective in its unstressed state, to an enlarged .scale relative to FIGS. 2 through 4.- Strip 24 is generally Y shaped in crosssection (the Y is rotated clockwise relative to an upright position). It is the relative thickness of the. connecting apex portions such as along ridge 57 and the junction of arms 25, 26 which controls the spring tension of the strip 24 on panels 18, 20 and 22. In the instance of the screen, resilient engagement between the plastic strip, the screen and the frame member is produced to prevent the screen member from being pulled loose from the frame while permitting limited movement of the screen as a result of pressure or impacts. Thus, fiberglass panels may be employed and they will exhibit-the resilience produced by the strip 24.

While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is understood that the concepts thereof may be utilized in various ways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, it being understood that the embodiment shown in the drawing is given merely for the purpose of explanation and illustrating without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details involved.

Whatis claimed is:

1. In combination, a frame enclosing an area to be panelled, a panel and a strip for securing said panel to said frame,said frame having a channel defined by a first surface portion facing the area to be panelled, a lip projecting from one edge of said surface portion toward the area to be panelled and a second surface portion facing said lip and projecting at an acute angle from the other edge of said first surface portion, saidchannel receiving a portion of said strip, said received portion of said strip cooperating with said lip and said portions of said channel to define compression camlock means, said strip including a resilient portion of Y- shaped cross-section, the two legs of said Y defining first compression-spring means and the stem of said Y and one leg thereof defining second compression spring means, and another resilient portion of V-shaped crosssection defining tension spring means and comprising the stem of said Y whereby said tension spring means engages said panel and compresses both of said compression spring means to urge said cam-lock means into locking condition in said frame.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said panel comprises a solid panel.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said panel comprises a fabric panel, and wherein said channel includes a slot in said first surface thereof, said slot extending longitudinally of said frame and having a transverse dimension extending away from the area to be panelled, the terminal edges of said fabric panel extending into said slot, said first compression spring means resiliently engaging said panel. 

1. In combination, a frame enclosing an area to be panelled, a panel and a strip for securing said panel to said frame, said frame having a channel defined by a first surface portion facing the area to be panelled, a lip projecting from one edge of said surface portion toward the area to be panelled and a second surface portion facing said lip and projecting at an acute angle from the other edge of said first surface portion, said channel receiving a portion of said strip, said received portion of said strip cooperating with said lip and said portions of said channel to define compression cam-lock means, said strip including a resilient portion of Y-shaped cross-section, the two legs of said Y defining first compression spring means and the stem of said Y and one leg thereof defining second compression spring means, and another resilient portion of V-shaped cross-section defining tension spring means and comprising the stem of said Y whereby said tension spring means engages said panel and compresses both of said compression spring means to urge said cam-lock means into locking condition in said frame.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said panel comprises a solid panel.
 3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said panel comprises a fabric panel, and wherein said channel includes a slot in said first surface thereof, said slot extending longitudinally of said frame and having a transverse dimension extending away from the area to be panelled, the terminal edges of said fabric panel extending into said slot, said first compression spring means resiliently engaging said panel. 